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Cougar Women Open 2008-09 Regular Season

FIRST GLANCEThe Washington State University women's basketball team opens its 2008-09 regular season on the road, squaring off against the Lady Raiders of Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas. The two teams are slated to tip-off at noon (PT) Sunday (Nov. 16) at United Spirit Arena.

ON THE RADIOFans can listen to the game at www.wsucougars.com or via Border 104.3 in Pullman. Cougar broadcaster Steve Grubbs will be with the WSU volleyball team, so Scott Fitzgerald will be calling the game from Lubbock.

LAST MEETINGKatie Appleton scored a team-high 15 points against Texas Tech last season (Dec. 1, 2007), but the Lady Raiders were victorious 89-45 at Friel Court.

The loss dropped the Cougars to 2-5, while Texas Tech improved to a perfect 9-0.

The Lady Raiders jumped out to a 16-0 lead and held on to it for the game's entirety.

THE SERIESTexas Tech was victorious in each of the first two meetings between the schools, including an 85-49 victory this past season in Pullman. In the only other meeting between the Cougars and Lady Raiders, WSU fell 75-63 at the SWC Challenge in Seattle (Jan. 4, 1992).

SEASON OPENERSWSU is 18-20 in season openers dating back to the 1970-71 season, and 11-13 in season openers played away from Pullman.

The last time WSU kicked off a season with a win came in 2005-06, a 66-57 victory at home against Pepperdine.

The Cougars' last season-opening victory on the road came during the 2000-01 season, when WSU knocked off American 59-52.

SCOUTING THE COUGARSIn their two exhibition games prior to beginning the 2008-09 season, the Cougars knocked off Showtime Basketball 101-64 (Nov. 2), and Concordia (Ore.) 86-61 (Nov. 9).

WSU's seven-player freshmen class has garnered a lot of attention since last year's signing day, ranking as high as No. 16 in the national recruiting rankings (Blue Star Basketball).

But it isn't all about the freshmen. WSU returns all but one of its players from last year's roster at the end of last season. Here is a look at what is coming back this season: scoring - 90.3 percent; rebounding 90.7 percent; assists 84.9 percent; blocks 93.6 percent; and steals - 92.3 percent.

SCOUTING TEXAS TECHPrior to Sunday's game with the Cougars, the Lady Raiders will host Idaho at home Friday, Nov. 14.

Texas Tech returns eight letterwinners, including four starters, from last year's squad that went 17-16. Tech is led by senior Dominic Seals, the 2008 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, who led the Lady Raiders in scoring (13.9) and rebounding (8.3) last season. Seals played in all 33 games as a junior with 32 starts.

Texas Tech was victorious in each of its two exhibition games, knocking off the Melbourne Roos 109-27 (Nov. 2) and the Houston Jaguars 94-68 (Nov. 9).